The Best Suspension For Me?

prariepunk

prariepunk

Active member
front end problem

Hey y'all, sorry about so many posts, you guys just return them so quickly, the page I came from took about a month to return posts. Anyway, I'm moving to Austin, Texas and want to redo my suspension. Should I go SOA or 4 link? I'll be in the mud mostly, but have some thoughts about going over rocks to get to the mud. Can a SOA be a good suspension on the rocks? or can a 4 link be good in the mud? I just want to trail ride like the Rick Russles Off Road Adventures.
 

RE: suspension lift+hinge shackles

soa, simplicity and height, when you get into a four link you get into a lot of trouble and money getting everything positioned right and built right, not to mention you have to build the links to withstand a lot. then all the angular geometry and the formulas you have to go through to get the proper antisquat, antidive, cog, roll cog, etc etc. if you really want to know more about 4 links and coil overs go to pirate4x4.com, they have the 4 link thing down. an soa on 2 inch leaves and a little body trimming will fit 39s no problem. im for the soa, i run one, i can twist it up more than a pretzel, and tighter than a noose
 
If you've got the $$$ and patience to do 4 link, go coil over and not buggy springs. SOA would be fine for any type wheeling though and is a great setup. RE's reverse eye springs would be a great choice for SOA.

If you're doing mostly mud there's really no need to go 4 link.
 
I heard that the "reverse shackle" set up can be counter productive on the SOA set-up? any body have KNOWLEDGE? I read it but do not know.
 

RE: Lockers

SOA for sure. As far as the shackle reversal being counter productive, I dont see how that could be. All that is changed is the location of the springs (from under axles to on top) and shackle reversals benefit a SUA, so I would imagine the benefits would be the same.
 
RE: What to do What to do

the shackle reversal causes the front wheel to travel towards the body during compression, several people i wheel with have done this and run into the problem of rubbing theyre tub. dont do a shackle reversal, its a waste of time
 
I'd do the SOA. Easy to do, proven, and simple.

The 4-link is awesome......if setup right. Most of them I see are hack jobs. Nothing wrong with a single-purpose hack job as long as your ride is single purpose. It doesn't sound like yours is. A properly setup custom 4-link is expensive-expensive-expensive, unless you do it yourself......and depending on your math ability, knowledge of suspension dynamics, and fab skills......you might end up with the previously mentioned hack job. Although copying a known four link design is easy if you have one to study and you have the fabrication ability.
 

Many different opinions, but I am a little tight on cash so it will wait if anything! Anybody else have an opinion?
 
I'd also say SOA for all the reasons listed above.

To stretch it like that, you just have to move the mounts for the shackles and hangers...moving the leaves either back (in the rear) or forward (in the front). But, then of course it's time for new drivelines and all that other spendy stuff.
 
RockCrawler's or Black diamond's coil over suspensions will do that... if you've got several thousand dollars to spend.

Do a SOA. Yeah, shackle reversals can be counter-productive when doing a SOA on stock flat springs and also on any SWB jeep using stock springs. If using positively arched (any lift spring) springs it can help the ride. Stock springs are flat and flex well both up and down, which is why the stock shackle setup is the way it is. With a flat spring, reversing the shackles can cause the front end to "dive" when braking. A lift spring with a positive arch helps counteract this because the arch will fight the compression when braking.

Just for the record, I mentione a reverse eye spring, not a shackle reversal (just in case that's what you thought). Rubicon Express' reverse eye spring is a 1.5" lift spring designed for a SOA application:
image-missing.png


It is a lift spring that does not fight compression like most lift springs. A shackle reversal might result in front end dive with these too ;)
 
Daytona 500!

so with those revese eye spring, a shackle reversal won't be good? just use these in a lift for the best results?
 

RE: Cheap 4X4

The only time I would do a shackle reversal would be with a lift spring. That RE spring it's anybody's guess, but I wouldn't think it would be a good idea. YOu could do a reversal with any spring, but you have to be willing to deal with the front end dive I mentioned if it is a spring with qualities that would allow for good compression.

I personally would not bother unless it was a 3" or larger lift spring.
 
RE: Question:Junkpile or 9in man

sprung over on 4 inch leaves? sprung over on 2 inch leaves and some trimming will be more than enough to clear the 39's. your gonna be way up there with 4 inch leaves
 
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